Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
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An immortal warrior must regain his youth to destroy a corrupt global shield and save the Earth from industrial devastation.
The story
Set in the year 2024, the film follows Connor MacLeod as he regains his youth and immortality and sets out to free Earth from the corrupt operators of an artificial ozone layer. By 1999, Earth is devastated by industrial pollution and a damaged ozone layer. Connor supervises a scientific team which creates an electromagnetic shield. In 2024, the Shield Corporation is run by David Blake, and it imposes heavy fees on countries for continued protection. Connor is approached by Louise Marcus, the leader of an anti-shield group, who believes the corporation is lying about the ozone layer's recovery.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Five hundred years ago on the planet Zeist, sorcerer Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez leads a rebellion against General Katana. Using the Quickening, he creates a bond with fellow rebel Connor MacLeod. They are banished to Earth to live as immortals, where they fight until only one survives. By 1999, Earth's ozone layer is damaged, and Connor supervises the creation of an electromagnetic shield. In 2024, the Shield Corporation charges heavy fees for protection. Louise Marcus, leader of an anti-shield group, asks Connor for help. Katana sends assassins to kill Connor; Connor decapitates them, restoring his youth. Ramírez appears, and the trio plans to destroy the shield. Katana arrives on Earth and allies with David Blake to capture Connor. Ramírez sacrifices himself to save Connor and Louise. Connor duels and beheads Katana, using the quickening energy to destroy the shield. As the world returns to normal, Connor asks Louise to come with him to Zeist.
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States; France; Argentina
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Russell Mulcahy
- Writers
- Peter Bellwood · screenplay; Brian Clemens · story; William N. Panzer · story
- Cast and characters
- Christopher Lambert · Connor MacLeod; Virginia Madsen · Louise Marcus; Michael Ironside · General Katana; Sean Connery · Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez; John C. McGinley · David Blake; Allan Rich · Allan Neyman; Philipp Brock · Cabbie; Rusty Schwimmer · Drunk
- Genres
- science fiction; fantasy; action
- Themes
- immortality; environmental destruction; sacrifice; rebellion
- Tone and mood
- dystopian; sci-fi; action
- Premise and plot tags
- sequel; dystopian; sci-fi; fantasy; eco-terrorism
- Franchise connections
- Highlander
- Reception
- The film was panned by critics and fans and is considered to be one of the worst films ever made. It received a 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes and was described as 'hilariously incomprehensible' and 'intensely stupid'.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 0%; Metacritic · score: 31 · scale: 100; DVD Verdict · score: 69 · scale: 100; IGN · score: 2 · scale: 10; Christopher Null · score: 1
- Production trivia
- The film was panned so heavily that the following film, Highlander III: The Sorcerer, ignores its events.; The production was plagued by hyperinflation in Argentina, costing an estimated $3 million in inflation alone.; Sean Connery agreed to return only for $3 million for six days of work, requiring the money to be placed in escrow.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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